How Long Did Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston Date?
Taylor Swift has been in a long-term relationship with actor Joe Alwyn for several years – but well before that, the singer was involved with several of the world’s biggest celebs. One of the celebrities who had a brief fling with Swift was Tom Hiddleston, the actor well-known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although Hiddleston and Swift’s romance was fleeting, it attracted a great deal of fan interest, and to this day, pop culture fans think back to the days of their dating relationship with fondness.
How long did Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift go out?
Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston were first linked in early 2016, right after Swift broke up with celebrity DJ Calvin Harris. While some critics might have initially thought that their romance was a publicity stunt, photos of Swift and Hiddleston kissing in Rhode Island went viral in June 2016. Dubbed “Hiddleswift” by the press, Hiddleston and Swift were spotted out and about on several occasions over the summer. Hiddleston was even photographed in July of that year wearing an “I heart TS” t-shirt that got fans and media outlets alike buzzing.
In Hollywood, summer romances often burn brightly but only last for a short period of time, and this ultimately proved to be the case with Hiddleston and Swift. By September 2016, just three months after they were first linked, the two stars appeared to have broken up. While Swift and Hiddleston didn’t directly address their breakup with the press, Hiddleston did open up in February 2017 to GQ about the psychological effects of tabloid scrutiny, noting,
“I have to be so psychologically strong about not letting other people’s interpretations about my life affect my life. A relationship exists between two people. We will always know what it was. The narratives that are out there altogether have been extrapolated from pictures that were taken without consent or permission, with no context.”
What has Tom Hiddleston said about Taylor Swift?
In the same February 2017 interview, Hiddleston had nothing but good words for Swift, noting “I only know the woman I met. She’s incredible.” Hiddleston cited the paparazzi as adding additional “work” to any relationship – and it’s no coincidence that Hiddleston has lived a much more private life in the years since his brief romance with Swift.
In a more recent interview with Empire, in April 2021, Hiddleston indirectly referenced his decision to live his life separate from the influence of the tabloids. As reported by Independent, Hiddleston said,
“A few things crossed my path and I thought carefully about them, but they didn’t feel quite right, so I didn’t do them … I’d been playing so many different people in so many different parts of the world, and it’s very important to distinguish what’s real in one’s own life, and look after those things.”
Taylor Swift has been dating Joe Alwyn since 2016
According to Parade, Hiddleston has been dating actor Zawe Ashton since 2019, although the charismatic star has never opened up about their romance. As for Swift, she started dating actor Joe Alwyn in 2016. It took well over a year before Swift would confirm their romance, according to Brides, with Swift taking great care to avoid being photographed alongside Alwyn. These days, the two are still together, and as private as ever, although engagement rumors have swirled for well over a year.
It seems as though both Swift and Hiddleston learned some valuable lessons about media exposure during their brief but memorable fling in the summer of 2016 – and the two have since worked hard at keeping their recent relationships out of the spotlight and away from prying eyes.
